Woman convicted of hitting boyfriend with car in Cedar Grove

A woman who ran over her boyfriend in "a murderous rage" was convicted Thursday for aggravated assault, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

Charlene Cook, 24, of Emmaus, Pa., left a West Orange nightclub around 4 a.m. Nov. 20, 2011, with her boyfriend and his sister, according to the release. Shortly afterward, Cook got into an argument with her boyfriend and pulled over near an office building at 500 Pompton Ave.

There, she scratched her boyfriend in the face and when he got out of the car to get away, she drove a 2007 Hyundai 20-feet uphill and struck the victim, according to police. The crash broke two long bones in the man's lower right leg, which broke through his skin.

"This defendant was in the throes of a murderous rage and she gave into it," Essex County Prosecutor Michael Morris stated in a release. "We thought it was important to press this case."

Those involved initially blamed the crash on a hit-and-run from an unknown SUV, but police determined that Cook intentionally struck the victim, according to a police blotter item from the time.

The victim was brought to St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson for emergency surgery.

An attorney for Cook could not be immediately reached for comment.

An Essex County jury convicted Cook before Superior Court Judge Peter Ryan. Sentencing for Cook, who faces three to five years in jail, is scheduled for March 14.